Nilsson targets top five

Lasse Nilsson hopes his winner against Ajax will help to propel Heerenveen towards a top-five finish. The Swedish striker scored the only goal at the Amsterdam ArenA on Sunday to move Heerenveen to within six points of fifth-placed Feyenoord.

Nilsson admits the club's target is to finish in the top five in the Eredivisie and he was delighted to be the hero against Ajax. "Nobody is expecting three points when you are travelling to the Amsterdam ArenA to face Ajax," Nilsson told Sportbladet.

"We have had some tough weeks, therefore it is tremendously nice.

"The goal at Heerenveen is always to finish in the top five. We are still aiming for that place."

The forward is hoping his recent form will also see him included in Sweden's squad for the Euro 2008 qualifier with Northern Ireland later this month. He added: "Personally, I feel that I should be in the squad against Northern Ireland, of course."

 

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HEERENVEEN STUN AJAX IN AMSTERDAM

Visiting Heerenveen held on from an early Lasse Nilsson goal to snap a four-game winless skid with a plumbers' win against the painters of Ajax on Sunday afternoon. Michael Bradley came on to help close out the final 10 minutes and change as the Frisians posted their second Amsterdam ArenA league victory in their last three tries. Ajax entered the match clinging to faint title hopes, which were essentially trashed on a picturesque day in Mokum.

The hosts entered in a even more offensive 4-3-3 set than usual with twin playmakers Kenneth Perez and Wesley Sneijder. Heerenveen, meanwhile, fielded a tight 4-4-1-1 set that effectively slowed down the Godenzonen from the whistle. The speedster Nilsson was employed up top to give the Blue White Vikings a pressure valve with his home run ball threat. The danger was evident only seconds after kickoff as Ajax netminder Maarten Stekelenberg had to rush out of his area to head a Petter Hansson long ball away from the lurking Sweden international.

A minute later, Jaap Stam's low clearance was gathered by Gonzalo Garcia Garcia at the corner of the 18-yard box, but his quick shot flew well over frame. Ajax then started to hog the ball, as is their custom, but Heerenveen's cohesiveness kept them from moving forward quickly. Perez expertly played a slightly hesitant Klaas Jan Huntelaar through in the sixth minute; it was a stutter that allowed Frisians keeper Brian Vandenbussche to race out and smother in time. A poor Ryan Babel touch near midfield gave Paul Bosvelt the opening to lead Nilsson down the left, but former Heerenveen star Stam blocked his shot out for a corner kick that would be cleared easily.

In the eighth minute, an extremely long Johnny Heitinga throw sent Huntelaar running down the right side to win the first of three successive corners. The first quickly became the second, which was taken short to Tom de Mul; his cross cleanly picked out Stam, whose bullet header was swatted away from the top shelf by an acrobatic Vandenbussche. The third restart sailed to the far side for Sneijder, who bounced meekly into the waiting arms of the away goalie. Stam was rescued by a fortunate Gonzalo offside violation after Nilsson stripped the less-than-fully-fit Ajax captain as he dawdled out of the back.

Twelve minutes in, Hansson became the first man in the ref's book for tripping Sneijder on one of the home side's few fast breaks. The warming hosts intricately displayed some classic Ajax passing to work upfield at the quarter hour, only to have Babel and Huntelaar fail to connect on the final ball. Sneijder then played an incisive diagonal ball to Babel racing in on the left, but Thomas Prager rallied from midfield to take the bite out of the Holland international's attempt on goal and Vandenbussche collected comfortably.

The visitors made the breakthrough they were hoping for in the 17th minute, catching Ajax defender Zdenek Grygera in an offside trap gaffe. The Czech Republic star failed miserably to hold the line, allowing Gonzalo to slide a diagonal feed for Nilsson to lash home. Babel immediately raided the left flank after kickoff, but Gianni Zuiverloon coolly picked his pocket as the winger entered the area. The hosts returned quickly to win a corner kick, and Hansson had to clear the line after Perez put a loping header on target from De Mul's serve. Ajax got sloppy at the back in the 21st minute, but Danijel Pranjic bailed them out by crossing just a bit in front of Nilsson.

Urged on by their demanding supporters, the home team went back to the attack, with Sneijder playing a special toe poke through pass to gain Babel entrance to the box in the 24th minute. The #8 shirt raced to the endline before cutting back to Huntelaar, who saw his low 10-yard drive kicked away by Vandenbussche doing his best Patrick Roy imitation. Heerenveen nearly had a calamity of their own at the back, with the keeper forced to head clear of the marauding Babel after Michael Dingsdag and Hansson played hot potato with a Perez lob feed.

Oranje ace Huntelaar had a clear doorstep header from De Mul's corner kick, but guided it wide; the striker returned the favor by teeing up the winger on the half hour, but the Belgian blasted over from 16 yards.  De Mul and Perez worked some tricks to set up Huntelaar in the 38th minute, but scooped the former's overhead centering feed just over the cross bar. As the first stanza drew to its close, Heerenveen stopped backing up into their end long enough to create some moves of their own.

Gonzalo worked a give-and-go with Bosvelt before crossing to Pranjic, who volleyed over from 18 yards. The Spaniard then turned provider for Nilsson, but Stekelenberg was alert to the entry pass and gathered strongly to squash the danger. Ajax came back to other end for a last minute corner, with De Mul's tempting serve somehow bouncing through the goalmouth untouched. The hosts made a change at the break, bringing Romania right back George Orgararu on for the struggling Stam, with Heitinga sliding centrally to maintain shape.

The second half started a bit politely, but Calvin Jong-A-Pin sparked the proceedings with a yellow card foul on De Mul. In the 49th minute, Sneijder had to hustle back to nod a loose ball away from Pranjic in the area. At the other end, Hansson stood tall when Gabri tried to break in alone with a Huntelaar lay off. Bradley hopped off the bench to warm up for the first time in the 55th minute, just as Ajax were squandering back-to-back corners. Jong-A-Pin then flirted with a red card by blocking a De Mul cross with his hand, but Gabri was eventually called on to dispossess Pranjic when Heerenveen countered with the cleared restart.

After the hour mark had passed, Bradley rose to get ready for the second time as Leonardo replaced Perez in the Ajax line-up. The Brazilian immediately showed some fancy feet to round two defenders and was tripped just outside the area by Michel Breuer.  Sneijder uncharacteristically mis-hit the danger free kick terribly to draw groans from the by-now squirming Ajax faithful.  Huntelaar dummied a 72nd minute Orgararu center to allow Gabri free passage, but the Spaniard's first touch was too hard and Vandenbussche was able to smother.

With a quarter hour remaining, Leonardo got tangled up in a challenge with Heerenveen sub Jakob Poulsen and had to be quickly removed for young attacker Edgar Manucharyan. In the 79th minute, Huntelaar fired a smart Sneijder pass straight into the arms of Vandenbussche from 20 yards. Hanssen shrewdly knocked a Gabri slip pass away from the onrushing Manucharyan; an off-balance Huntelaar headed the resulting corner kick over from 10 yards. De Mul then cut in from the wing to blister a shot that Vandenbussche was barely able to tip wide.

Bradley entered for Gonzalo in the 82nd minute, positioned as a de facto #10 behind Nilsson. His entrance alone could not stem the tide, however, and Manucharyan forced Man of the Match Vandenbussche to push an in-drifting cross over his bar. The young American sent a counterattack ball over the top for Nilsson on his first touch, but the return cross was eventually booted clear by Grygera. In the 87th minute, Manucharyan latched onto a Sneijder entry feed to buzz the upper 90 from the left channel. The Ajax youngster also had the game's final chance, giving Vandenbussche one last opportunity to shine. Sneijder lobbed in for the Armenia international, who saw his rocket-on-the-fly rejected by the Heerenveen keeper.

"It's a really big win for us," Bradley told YA after the whistle. "The results haven't been what we wanted lately, so to come away from the ArenA with three points is huge." The Yank believes coach Gertjan Verbeek's tactics, along with some top notch netminding from Vandenbussche, made the difference.

"Obviously, they have so many good players," noted Bradley. "Sneijder, Huntelaar, Perez - they're all so good at connecting with each other. (We wanted to) not let them play right through us, so I think we did a good job."

"Brian had a great day. Anytime your keeper plays a game like that, you're going to be in a good position to win."

Heerenveen return to the league chase with visit from relegation battlers RKC Waalwijk on Saturday.

4 March 2007

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Roda JC 1 - 0 SC Heerenveen

An Andres Oper strike just before halftime was enough to see home side Roda JC grab the points from Heerenveen.

Michael Bradley replaced Paul Bosvelt in the 58th minute, while countryman Robbie Rogers did not dress.

Oper capped a 43rd minute counterattack by converting a Marcel de Jong pass, and the visitors could not come up with an adequate reply.

Heerenveen will try to snap their four-game winless slide next Sunday at Ajax.

 

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SC Heerenveen 1 - 2 FC Twente

Heerenveen fell to seven points behind fifth place Feyenoord after suffering an Abe Lenstra defeat to streaking Twente.

Michael Bradley picked up a yellow card in his 27 relief minutes, while compatriot Robbie Rogers did not dress.

The visitors, who have now won five straight, opened when Blaise N'Kufo deposited his 17th of the season on the quarter hour.

Sweden hopeful Kennedy Bakircioglu doubled the Twente lead in the 33rd minute with what proved to be the winner.

The Frisians got back in the game when captain Petter Hansson nodded home a Thomas Prager serve in the 67th minute.

Despite a late flurry, including a Bradley near miss from a corner kick in stoppage time, the hosts were unable to grab a share.

Heerenveen hit the road Saturday night to face eight place Roda JC.

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FC Groningen 1 - 1 SC Heerenveen

Heerenveen inched closer to the top five by rallying for an away derby share with FC Groningen on Friday night.

Michael Bradley worked the opening 67 minutes from midfield, while countryman Robbie Rogers did not dress.

After a scoreless first half, Antoine van der Linden put the hosts up from a 62nd minute corner kick.

Moments later, however, league top gun Afonso Alves bagged his 22nd goal of the year with a long free kick.

Heerenveen will next host Vitesse on Saturday.
 

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Heerenveen Hammer Heracles

Heerenveen moved to within three points of fifth-placed Feyenoord thanks to a 5-1 trouncing of Heracles Almelo on Friday night.  The Friesland-based side are looking to mount a European challenge in the second half of the season and had little difficulty in disposing of their struggling opponents.

Lasse Nilsson set the tone for the night when he scored after just two minutes, and, predictably, Brazilian striker Afonso Alves continued his stunning campaign with a brace before half-time (39, 43).  The former Malmo man has now registered 21 goals in 22 games this season and another starring role is sure to intensify talk of a potential January move to Manchester City.

Kwame Quansah (51) grabbed a goal back for Heracles, but Danijel Pranjic (62) and Canadian international Rob Friend (78) rounded off a superb night for Heerenveen.

Heerenveen		Heracles Almelo
Lasse Nilsson 2 Afonso Alves 39 Afonso Alves 43 Danijel Pranjic 62 Rob Friend 78	5-1	Kwame Quansah 51

26 January 2007

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SC Heerenveen 5 - 1 Heracles Almelo

Heerenveen got the Heracles monkey off their back in a big way, shredding their Saturday visitors to keep pace with the top five. Michael Bradley was drafted into midfield for the final 20 minutes and change, while fellow Yank Robbie Rogers did not dress.

It took only two minutes for Lasse Nilsson to start the party and Afonso Alves grabbed a double inside of four minutes late in the period to give the Frisians a healthy lead at the break. Danijel Pranjic and Canada striker Rob Friend piled on in the late going to complete the margin.

After celebrating their first ever win over Heracles, the Frisians will make the short trip to face arch rivals FC Groningen in a nationally televised Friday evening clash.

26 January 2007

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PSV EASE PAST 10-MAN FRISIANS
Michael Adubato for Yanks Abroad Saturday, January 20, 2007
Michael Bradley and SC Heerenveen fell to defending Eredivisie champions PSV Eindhoven 3-1 at Phillips Stadion after going down to 10 men when defender Calvin Jong-a-Pin was sent off in the 14th minute.

The young American came off the bench at the beginning of the second half and was slotted into the left back position.

Jefferson Farfán was the first to burst forward when, in the third minute, he charged up the middle and found Arouna Koné on the edge of the box, but the return pass was snuffed out by the visiting back line.

The hosts regained possession and pressed the point again, this time winning a corner.

Farfán swung it into the box and Manuel da Costa should have done better with a free header that sailed over the crossbar.

Before the 10-minute mark, PSV had a couple more chances - first, a Farfán shot that the Peruvian struck hard, forcing Brian Vandenbussche into a save that he knocked away for a corner kick, which he also intercepted.

The second attack was also courtesy of the Lima native, this time finding Koné, who fed Timmy Simons in front of goal.

The low shot was struck hard and true, but the Heerenveen stopper was up to the task.

The Champions League team drew first blood a quarter hour into the game after Patrick Kluivert played the ever present Farfán through the middle.

As he crossed into the 18-yard box, Jong-a-Pin grabbed an arm and brought him down; PSV were awarded a penalty kick, Heerenveen's #37 was rewarded with a straight red card.

Simons placed the ball on the spot and the Belgium international had no trouble putting his name on the scoresheet, placing his shot onto the top shelf.

The visitors were not to be disheartened and showed their mettle when, six minutes later, the score was once again level.

Lasse Nilsson linked up with Afonso Alves on the right side of the field, then lead the Brazilian down the middle.

The Eredivisie's top gun raced away from the defense to slot past the stunned Gomes.

A minute after the Brazilian picked the ball out of the back of the net, PSV were once again leading the contest, courtesy of Koné.

Simons played a long ball forward, finding the Ivory Coast ace on the left corner of the box; the ex-Roda JC man turned the defense and dented Vandenbussche's net.

The teams traded free kicks in the 28th and 30th minutes, with Heerenveen first seeing their 25-yard set piece cleared by Farmers captain Phillip Cocu.

It was followed by PSV corner that Vandenbussche claimed off the top of Koné's bleach blonde head.

Heerenveen's Jakob Poulsen had a clear shot at goal from 18 yards in the 32nd minute, but could only hit the target of a spectator in the 15th row.

It only took another five minutes for the champions to extend their lead, by yet another kick from the spot.

Cocu played forward to Farfán, who picked up the ball just in the box with his back to goal - as he turned to face the target, Michael Dingsdag knocked him over.

The Peruvian did the honors this time, placing it just to the right of the aggravated keeper, who seconds earlier had picked up a yellow for exchanging verbiage with referee Roelof. Luinge.

To Heerenveen's credit, the ten-man team attempted to go forward, but their attacks were feeble and easily repelled by Brazilian defense marshal Alex and his back line.

Danijel Pranjic darted up the wing just before the intermission, beating Edison Mendez to deliver across the face of goal, but no teammates were on hand to test Gomes.

Coach Gertjan Verbeek made a few changes going into the final 45, one of them being the introduction of Bradley at left back.

Three minutes in, Alex let loose a 23-yard free kick that sailed wide right, followed by a tame Pranjic effort at the other end.

Heerenveen wasted a 57th minute free kick that Gomes claimed, followed by another that Alves struck off frame.

Although not much traffic passed in front of Bradley, the youngster had little problem containing Ecuador star Mendez and substitute Mika Väyrynen in his defensive role.

Ex-Liverpool man Jan Kromkamp pushed up the right side around the hour mark and saw an open Mendez, but the ex-MetroStar read the move as if he had spent his whole life playing defense and cleared the area.

The visitor's man between the posts was called on to make a spectacular save in the 66th minute after Kromkamp linked up with substitute Jason Culina.

The man from Down Under's free header was knocked away by Vandenbussche, who then swan-dived onto the loose ball before the advancing Koné could pounce.

The 11 men of PSV dominated possession and kept coming forward, yet their ability to find the back of the net was nowhere to be found in the second.

Väyrynen's attempt at a bicycle kick in the box from 10 yards left something to be desired as he seemed to have a flat tire.

An 82nd minute Carlos Salcido shot from distance cleared the crossbar for PSV and a Diego Tardelli strike also missed the target, followed by a late shot into the outside netting by Farfán.

A stoppage time visitor's corner kick was not taken as the referee blew the whistle to end the affair.

"You're always in for a tough time when you play PSV and its tougher when you're down to 10 men after 15 minutes," Bradley told YA post game. "We went down a goal and a guy, but we pulled ourselves together well."

"If we could keep it 1-1, we could frustrate them. The second penalty was tough."

On playing in an unfamiliar position, this up-and-coming American star was just glad to get in 45 minutes of work.

"At that point, down a goal, it was important to settle down quickly in a position I don't play, but it shows that the coach has confidence in me." stated Bradley.

Heerenveen will next host Heracles Almelo on Friday night.
 

 

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BORE DRAW AT THE ABE LENSTRA

Heerenveen's final match before the new year break ended in disappointment as they were held to an insipid goalless draw by FC Utrecht at the Abe Lenstra Stadion. Gertjan Verbeek's men dominated proceedings for much of the game and for a time looked good to continue their good run of form following two consecutive league wins. However, it was Utrecht that might have snatched all three points at the death, only for their hat-trick of stoppage time-chances to all go begging. The point ensures Utrecht head into the winter hiatus on the back of a four-game unbeaten run that moves them to eighth in the standings, while Heerenveen stay in sixth.

Heerenveen began brightly and might have taken the lead on six minutes when Danijel Pranjic's cross found Afonso Alves unmarked in the box only for the striker to fluff his lines with only the keeper to beat. Moments later the same duo were at it again, this time Pranjic teeing up Alves on the edge of the box, but the Eredivisie's leading scorer could only graze the left upright with a rasping effort. The hosts' best chance of the half came on 11 minutes.

Jacob Poulsen made space in the box for a shot that was well saved by Utrecht keeper Michel Vorm, while Lasse Nilsson's follow-up effort also brought a top-drawer stop from the visiting custodian. In reply, Utrecht mustered a good chance on 16 minutes when Peter Kopteff's free-kick brought a smart stop from Brian Vandenbussche, while Tom Caluwe played in Marc-Antoine Fortune on 25 minutes but the Heerenveen keeper blocked with his feet.

A poor second period produced little in the way of chances for either side until the closing moments. Pranjic played in 18-goal hitman Alves 12 minutes from time, but again the goalkeeper did his job well, while the final moments belonged to the visitors. Substitute Darl Douglas was guilty of a fresh-air shot while free in front of goal as the clocked ticked round to 90 minutes, while two minutes later the same player saw his header from Joost Broerse's corner hacked off the line. Three minutes into injury time, Fortune embarked on a solo run, but once again the end product evaded Utrecht as he fired wide.

SC Heerenveen - FC Utrecht 0-0 (0-0).
Yellow Cards: Zuiverloon (SC Heerenveen), Pieters en De Jong (FC Utrecht).

SC Heerenveen: Vandenbussche; Jong-A-Pin, Breuer, Dingsdag en Zuiverloon; Pranjic, Hanssen (69. Friend), Prager en Poulsen (26. Bradley); Nilsson (74. Johnson) en Alves.
FC Utrecht: Vorm; Shew-Atjon, Pieters, Broerse en Cornelisse; Kopteff (74. Somers), Van Dijk, Caluwé en Kruys (46. De Jong); Fortuné en Nelisse (63. Douglas).
 

30 December 2006

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NEC BROUGHT BACK DOWN TO EARTH

Heerenveen ended NEC Nijmegen's recent revival with a comfortable 2-0 victory at the De Goffert stadium on Wednesday night. Afonso Alves and Will Johnson scored the goals for the visitors, who stay sixth in the Eredivisie, four points behind fifth-placed Feyenoord. Heading into the game, Mario Been's NEC were on a five-game unbeaten streak, but were dealt an early blow by Alves' strike. In the 16th minute, Peter Wisgerhof brought down the Brazilian 20-yards from goal and his preceding free-kick flew directly into the top corner to give Heerenveen the lead.

On the half-hour mark, Lasse Nilsson carried the ball from the left into the penalty area and fired a powerful shot that goalkeeper Gabor Babos could only parry, and Wisgerhof was forced to make a last-ditch clearance off the line. Five minutes later Jacob Poulsen picked out Alves with a a perfect ball from the right, but again the the home defence were left scrambling as they just managed to clear the Brazilian's close range effort in what proved the final action of the first half.

After all the running by Gertjan Verbeek's team in the opening 45 minutes, his opposite number opted to for an all-out attack as he brought on Paul Jans and Said Ntivazonkisa. However, the pair - along with Youssef El Akchaoui and Jonas Olsson - all missed decent chance to draw the home team level before a late sting in the tail. With eight minutes remaining, Danijel Pranjic led a fierce counter-attack that saw him race down the left wing, before cutting the ball back to Johnson from the by-line and he made no mistake from two yards. Brett Holman could have pulled one back late on, but his 20-yard free-kick skimmed the post to leave the home team finishing the game empty handed

NEC - SC Heerenveen 0-2 (0-1)
15. Alves 0-1
82. Johnson 0-2.
Arbiter: Van Egmond
Yellow cards: Denneboom (NEC), Zuiverloon (SC Heerenveen)

NEC: Babos; Nalbantoglu, Wisgerhof, Olsson en El Akchaoui; Kivuvu, Pothuizen (46. Ntibazonkiza) en Snoyl; Denneboom, Holman en Worm (46. Jans)
SC Heerenveen: Vandenbussche; Zuiverloon, Breuer, Dingsdag en Jong-A-Pin; Poulsen (75. Johnson), Hanssen, Prager en Pranjic; Alves en Nilsson (86. Friend)

27 December 2006

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HEERENVEEN TRIUMPHANT

Heerenveen atoned for past misdemeanours with a win at the expense of Excelsior. First-half goals from Afonso Alves and Lasse Nilsson were sufficient for Gertjan Verbeek's side to see off the challenge of the team from Rotterdam. It also helped erase memories of their 5-1 defeat at the hands of FC Twente last weekend.

Heerenveen dominated the first half which was played almost entirely in the Excelsior half of the field. After eight minutes Andre Hanssen played in Alves but the shot was well saved by Theo Zwarthoed. However, Heerenveen would not be denied for long and they took the lead after 24 minutes. Nilsson played the role of provider as he crossed from the left and Alves headed into an empty net. Still the hosts pressed forward and Michel Breuer set up another chance for Alves who shot but Zwarthoed came to the rescue with a fine save.

Alves had another chance five minutes before the break but the overworked custodian once again earned his keep with another save. The second goal came three minutes before the break and was the work of Nilsson who dribbled into the box and drew Zwarthoed before chipping it over him and into the net. The second half was also one-way traffic although Heerenveen were more measured in their dominance.

After 62 minutes Alves turned two players in the box before curling his shot from the left side of the box wide of the post. Jakob Poulsen then created another chance for Alves who headed wide.

One more chance went begging for Heerenveen when Nilssen struck a post but the victory never looked threatened and Heerenveen duly picked up the three points to climb to sixth in the Eredivisie.

23 December 2006

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SC Heerenveen 2 - 0 Excelsior Rotterdam

Heerenveen eased past Excelsior at the Abe Lenstra on Saturday evening, with Michael Bradley involved in both goals. The American worked from start to finish, picking up an assist in a fine passing performance.

On 22 minutes, a looping Bradley long ball sent Lasse Nilsson racing down the left unfettered. The speedy Swede entered the area and calmly picked out Afonso Alves on the doorstep for his league-best 17th goal. Three minutes before intermission, Bradley slipped Nilsson in on goal with a pillow soft outside-of-the-boot pass; the forward tucked in Excelsior for the night with an identical finish.

The Frisians continued booting the ball around with great ease, but were unable to build a more impressive final tally. Heerenveen will now make a Wednesday trip to face NEC Nijmegen before heading into the winter break with a weekend visit from FC Utrecht.

23 December 2006

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TWENTE KEEP CLOSE TO AJAX

FC Twente maintained the pressure on third-placed Ajax with a comprehensive victory over 10-man Heerenveen.Blaise N'Kufo opened the scoring early on, but although Afonso Alves equalised, that was the visitors last meaningful contribution, as Sharbel Touma and Jeroen Heubach increased the lead, N'Kufo and Kennedy Bakircioglu completing the rout after Thomas Prager's sending off.In the eighth minute Otman Bakkal picked up the ball on the left of the penalty area and though his shot hit the post, N'Kufo was in a great position to stroke the rebound home.

Four minutes later Heerenveen could have been level, Andre Hanssen crossing from the right and finding Lasse Nilsson, but the Swedish midfielder's close-range shot was deflected behind for a corner by goalkeeper Sander Boschker.Heerenveen were level in the 24th minute, the referee waving away protests that Nilsson had handballed and the visitors taking advantage of the confusion for Alves to fire in from the edge of the area.The hosts restored the lead four minutes before the break.

Kennedy Bakircioglu's cross from the right wing appeared to have eluded everyone, but Touma, racing into the area at the far post, met the ball with a powerful shot into the top left corner.Bakkal and Alves had chances to score again before half-time, but the Twente and Heerenveen forwards were denied by the crossbar and 'keeper Sander Boschker respectively.Twente continued to dominate after the break, and were further ahead when Heubach, without a league goal since the 2001/02 season, made up for that drought with a stunning run and strike which beat 'keeper Brian Vandenbussche.

Two minutes after the hour mark the game was all but over for Heerenveen as Prager received a second yellow card and was dismissed.Nine minutes later Twente made their numerical advantage count, Bakkal feeding N'Kufo who found the back of the net for the fifth time in two games, his 15th of the season.Touma then turned provider, playing the ball into the area to find Bakircioglu, who smashed the ball into the corner of the net from less than two yards out.

FC Twente - SC Heerenveen 5-1 (2-1)
8. N’Kufo 1-0
24. Alves 1-1
41. Touma 2-1
57. Heubach 3-1
72. N’Kufo 4-1
80. Bakircioglu 5-1
Red Card: 62. Prager (SC Heerenveen/ 2xgeel)
Yellow Card: Zuiverloon (SC Heerenveen)
FC Twente: Boschker; Wilkshire (85. Niemeyer), Wielaert, Zomer en Heubach; El Ahmadi (79. Sibum), Bakkal (83. Gerk) en Engelaar; Bakircioglu, N’Kufo en Touma.
SC Heerenveen: Vandenbussche; Breuer, Hansson, Dingsdag (60. Friend) en Zuiverloon (46. Bosvelt); Pranjic, Prager, Hanssen en Poulsen; Nilsson (68. Bradley) en Alves.

17 December 2006

14 December 2006
 

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Lens through despite defeat at Heerenveen

RC Lens lost at SC Heerenveen but limited the damage to advance to the next round in the UEFA Cup.

SC Heerenveen - RC Lens 1-0

Heerenveen needed to win by three or more goals to surpass Lens in Group D and secure a spot in the next round. As the second half progressed, it became clear that the Dutch would not be able to score three goals, as Lens concentrated on keeping a clean sheet.

But the guests eventually conceded a goal in the 93rd minute when Eredivisie topscorer Afonso Alves set the score to 1-0. OB Odense, Heerenveen and Lens all have four points but the French have the best goal record and move on to the next round.

Parma - Osasuna 0-3
Parma had already won their first three matches and were certain of winning Group D. Second-placed Osasuna were not any less motivated however.

David Lopez scored in the 33rd and 44th minutes and Juanfran added another in the 82nd minute to help his side to a 0-3 victory.

14 December 2006

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Heerenveen leave it late

Substitute Niklas Tarvajarvi scored the only goal of the game three minutes from time as Heerenveen climbed to sixth in the Eredivisie table with a home victory against Roda JC. Finnish striker Tarvajarvi latched onto Rob Friend's flick on before shrugging off a Roda defender and finish clinically to register his first goal of the season just two minutes after entering the fray. The victory ensured Gertjan Verbeek's side leapfrogged Groningen in the table, just three points behind fourth-placed FC Twente.

Heerenveen started brightly and Lasse Nilsson went close to breaking the deadlock only three minutes in, but Roda goalkeeper Vladan Kujovic turned his venomous strike over the crossbar. The hosts went close again just short of the half-hour mark when a Danijel Pranjic corner was met by Petter Hansson, whose towering header was hacked off the line by Marcel De Jong.

Roda's first chance of the game came on the stroke of half-time when Adil Ramzi latched onto a long ball and raced through on goal only to be hauled down by goalkeeper Brian Vandenbussche just outside the penalty area, with the Heerenveen custodian amazingly shown only a yellow card.

The home side also had the better of the second half, although Vandenbussche had to be at his best to keep out Vincent Lachambre's goal-bound lob. Then, with the game seemingly destined to end in a stalemate, Tarvajarvi burst through the Roda backline to snatch all three points for Verbeek's men

10 December 2006
 

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FEYENOORD SCRAPE WIN

Jonathan de Guzman's goal six minutes from time finally defeated Heerenveen as Feyenoord won a goal fest at De Kuip Stadion.  In a see-saw affair, Afonso Alves gave Heerenveen a 24th-minute lead, but Feyenoord levelled through Stein Huysegems on the stroke of half-time. The hosts then appeared to take control as Huysegem's second and a Theo Lucius penalty put them 3-1 ahead. But Rob Friend struck twice in six minutes to level the game for Heerenveen and Feyenoord needed their Canadian midfielder to complete the job as the clock ticked down.

Heerenveen started the afternoon only three points behind their hosts, and showed little fear in the opening stages as Danijel Pranjic cut in from the wing to shoot narrowly wide. They took the lead when Alves played a neat one-two with Lasse Nilsson inside the area before firing past Henk Timmer. Feyenoord pushed for an equaliser, but had to wait until moments before the break before Huysegem's stole possession on the left and hit an instant shot past Brian Vandenbussche. He repeated the trick six minutes into the second half to give Feyenoord the lead, beating Vandenbussche with a great finish.

The Rotterdammers appeared on course for an easy victory when Lucius doubled their advantage from the spot after Petter Hansson was adjudged to have tripped De Guzman when it appeared the Feyenoord man had fallen over the ball. However, Heerenveen had other ideas and Nilsson set up Friend for a close-range finish for the first of his brace. The second came in the 79th minute, levelling the game when he rose highest to head in Pranjic's cross. But Feyenoord took all three points after De Guzman fired home from the edge of the box.

Feyenoord - SC Heerenveen 4-3 (1-1)
24. Alves 0-1
44. Huysegems 1-1
51. Huysegems 2-1
65. Lucius 3-1 (strafschop)
75. Friend 3-2
79. Friend 3-3
84. De Guzman 4-3

Yellow Card: Drenthe, Hofs (Feyenoord), Dingsdag, Nilsson, Breuer (SC Heerenveen)

Feyenoord: Timmer; Greene (78. Derijck), Saïdi, Bahia en Drenthe; Hofs, Lucius en De Guzman; Kolkka (76. Vincken), Charisteas (88. Van Hooijdonk) en Huysegems.

SC Heerenveen: Vandenbussche; Zuiverloon (67. Friend), Hansson, Dingsdag en Breuer; Poulsen, Bosvelt, Hanssen en Pranjic (89. Storm); Alves en Nilsson (77. Johnson).

3 December 2006

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ALVES IS HAT-TRICK HERO


A hat-trick from Afonso Alves earned Heerenveen their seventh win of the Eredivisie season on Wednesday - 3-1 at the expense of Vitesse Arnhem. With both teams looking to bounce back from weekend defeats, it was Vitesse who struck first through Fred Berson's first-half header. But the visitors hit back after the interval as Brazilian striker Alves stole the show with all three goals, including one from the penalty spot, to move Heerenveen up to seventh and ease the pressure on coach Gertjan Verbeek's shoulders.

Vitesse made most of the early running at the Gelredome and Heerenveen goalkeeper Brian Vandenbussche was forced to make early saves from Danko Lazovic and Anduele Prijor. The home side eventually broke the deadlock after 24 minutes when Berson met a corner from Vitesse captain Theo Janssen and headed the ball home from close range. Vitesse could have had a second 10 minutes later but Berson's fierce 25-yard drive came back off the left post. And although Lazovic poked in the rebound, referee Kevin Blom disallowed the strike for offside much to the frustration of the home supporters.

The decision proved costly for Vitesse in the second half as Heerenveen and Alves staged a stylish comeback. The Brazilian scored the equaliser 11 minutes after the restart, picking up Danijel Pranjic's pass before taking two neat touches and slotting the ball past Harald Wapenaar in the Vitesse goal. And just four minutes later, the visitors were ahead with Lasse Nilsson's telling cross headed home by Alves.

Vitesse were beginning to crumble under the pressure and after 77 minutes substitute Ruud Knol gave away a penalty with a clumsy challenge on Alves. The striker quickly picked himself up before again beating Wapenaar to complete his hat-trick.

Heerenveen could have added a fourth in the dying seconds but Will Johnson was denied by the woodwork just two minutes after coming off the bench.

Vitesse - SC Heerenveen 1-3 (1-0)
24. Benson 1-0,
56. Alves 1-1
60. Alves 1-2
77. Alves 1 - 3

Vitesse: Wapenaar; Verhaegh, Sprockel (50. Knol), Sansoni, Fränkel (43. Blondelle); Kaya, Pryor, Janssen; Benson, Lazovic, Esajas (73. Junker).

SC Heerenveen: Vandenbussche; Zuiverloon, Hansson, Dingsdag, Breuer; Bradley (59. Poulsen), Bosvelt (70. Kissi), Hanssen, Pranjic; Nilsson (88. Johnson), Alves

29 November 2006

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AZ leave it late

Two goals in the last 10 minutes fired AZ Alkmaar to second in the Eredivisie after they came from a goal down to win 3-1 at Heerenveen on Sunday.

Afonso Alves had put the hosts in front, but Shota Arveladze, Danny Koevermans and Maarten Martens eventually sealed a comfortable win at the Abe Lenstra Stadium. In an open first half both teams created several opportunities with the first falling to the home team in the 17th minute, but Lasse Nilsson's 12-yard strike, was well kept out by goalkeeper Khalid Sinouh. Three minutes later though Alves put them ahead when he was played in by Paul Bosvelt's cross from the right, which he tapped home.

But in the 27th minute, the visitors were level. Good work by Koevermans saw him thread the ball through to Arveladze, who darted through and put the ball beyond home goalkeeper Brian Vandenbussche from six yards.

Shortly after the half-hour, the visitors almost took the lead when Tim De Cler crossed the ball from the right wing to Martens, but he shot narrowly wide from just inside the penalty area in what proved the final action of the first half.

Immediately after the break, Danijel Pranjic was unlucky for the home team as his cracking drive from the edge of the penalty area came crashing back of the crossbar.

Midway through the half, good work by Stijn Schaars saw him play in Demy De Zeeuw, but his shot was parried away by home goalkeeper Vandenbussche, as the visitors began to look more threatening.

And then, with nine minutes remaining Barry Opdam picked up the ball on the halfway line and played in Koevermans with a perfectly timed through-ball, which he ran onto and finished low from the centre of the penalty area.

Four minutes later, Martens broke free and was one-on-one with the goalkeeper before finishing from close range to secure all the points for Louis van Gaal's side
 

Photos SC Heerenveen

26 November 2006

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Parma 2 Heerenveen 1

Parma moved two points clear at the top of Group D after narrowly edging out Heerenveen 2-1 in a thoroughly entertaining game. Igor Budan's brace, following Danijel Pranjic's opener for the visitors, settled an end-to-end game, packed with goalmouth action. Zlatko Dedic's left-footed curler, which struck the Heerenveen bar before bouncing over early on, was to set the tone.

Twenty-one minutes in, the visitors took the lead through Pranjic, who took the ball from Lasse Nilsson on the left and drilled it low across Parma goalkeeper Alfonso De Lucia from 20 yards out.
Parma roared back at the Dutch side, and could have equalised when Budan brought a fingertip save out of Heerenveen keeper Brian Vandenbussche with a header from a Luca Cigarini centre.
But the Croatian striker, on loan from Palermo, was not to be denied and in the 24th minute he headed Paolo Castellini's left-wing cross into the roof of the net from inside the six-yard box. With a little more composure, Nilsson could have had a goal to add to his assist, but he met Pranjic's low cross with a wild shot that flew over the bar. Cigarini nodded a half-chance wide and then Michel Breuer did the same from closer in at the other end as both teams remained committed to attack up to the half-time whistle.

At the restart, the opportunities kept coming, firstly Dedic shot wide for the hosts and then Heerenveen substitute Jacob Poulsen's 20-yarder forced De Lucia into a save low down. The Italian fielded a long-ranger from Pranjic before the game entered its first lull. That dip in proceedings lasted less than 10 minutes as Paul Bosvelt's header was well parried by De Lucia. Parma scored the winner when Budan notched his second, guiding his header from Paolo Castellini's cross past Vandenbussche in the 73rd minute. Chances at either end ensued, with substitute Rob Friend smacking the Parma bar late on, but Gertjan Verbeek's side now have just one point from three games and stay bottom of the group.


Parma: De Lucia, Ferronetti, Couto (Contini 46), Rossi,Castellini, Dessena, Cigarini, Savi, Dedic (Ciaramitaro 82),Budan, Kutuzov (Gasbarroni 65).
Booked: Couto, Rossi.
Goals: Budan 24, 73.


Heerenveen: Vandenbussche, Zuiverloon (Poulsen 28), Breuer,Hansson, Drost (Friend 76), Bosvelt, Hanssen, Pranjic, Nilsson,Alves, Yildirim, Poulsen (Bradley 82).
Booked: Bosvelt.
Goals: Pranjic 21.

23 November 2006

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Budan ensures Parma progress

Parma FC booked their place in the UEFA Cup Round of 32 after edging out SC Heerenveen in an entertaining Group D game. Igor Budan's double settled the contest and ensured the Italian side's progress following victories in their first two matches.

Pranjić opener
Zlatko Dedič's early left-footed curler, which struck the Heerenveen crossbar, set the tone for an open encounter in which the visitors took a 21st-minute lead after Danijel Pranjić received the ball from Lasse Nilsson on the left and drilled it low across Parma keeper Alfonso De Lucia. The hosts quickly responded and could have equalised when Budan brought a fingertip save from Heerenveen's Brian Vandenbussche.

Budan header
The Croatia striker was not to be denied and in the 24th minute he nodded Paolo Castellini's left-wing cross into the roof of the net from close range. With a little more composure, Nilsson could have restored the Dutch team's advantage and added a goal to his assist, but he met Pranjić's low centre with a wild shot that flew over the bar.

Further chances
As the second half kicked off the opportunities kept coming, Dedič firing wide for Parma before visiting substitute Jacob Poulsen forced De Lucia into a stooping save. The custodian also fielded a long-range effort from Pranjić before the game entered its first lull. That dip in proceedings lasted less than ten minutes as Paul Bosvelt's header was well parried by De Lucia.

Heerenveen pressure
Parma finally sealed their victory when Budan notched his second, guiding a header from another Castellini cross past Vandenbussche in the 73rd minute. Chances at either end ensued, with substitute Robert Friend rattling the Parma bar late on, but Gertjan Verbeek's Heerenveen now have just one point from three outings and slip to the bottom of the group.

23 November 2006

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Croatian sensation at Tardini!
Two goals by Budan and one by Pranjic as Parma defeats Heerenveen

This evening was something special for Croatians who had a chance to follow the match between Parma and Heerenveen. The game finished with Parma winning all three points after beating the Dutch 2:1, however the interesting fact is that all three goals were scored by Croatians. Both goals for the home side were the deed of their leading striker Igor Budan while the only goal for the guests was netted by Danijel Pranjic. The one thing that these two have in common is their homeland – Croatia.

Dedic begins the charge, Pranjic opens the score-sheet
Almost forgotten by the Ex-Yu football public, Slovenian Zlatko Dedic has forced his name several times to appear in all reports about this game. The 22-year-old striker had several chances throughout this duel but his best was in opening minutes when he struck the crossbar. As a retaliation to this “attack”, Heerenveen replied through Danijel Pranjic as the Croatian midfielder who made an excellent performance this evening used Lasse Nilsson ball and scored the leading goal for the Dutch in 21st minute. His celebration didn't last long since his compatriot Budan scored the equalizer just three minutes later.

Two headers for two goals and a sweet victory for Parma
Without doubt, this is Budan's best season of his career. The 26-year-old scored six consecutive goals before his goalscoring spree stopped last weekend, and now after just one match of pause he scored again, twice! Three minutes after his team fell behind, former Ascoli striker made it to the score-sheet with a head shot to the right bottom corner, the assistant was Lasse Nilsson. After this goal, there was a lot of efforts but not a single goal until 73rd minute when Budan scored again. This time the Croatian was provided the ball by Paolo Castellini but the “finish” was the same as he headed the ball past Brian Vandenbussche for the final 2:1.

23 November 2006

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Waalwijk woes continue

Lasse Nilsson and Afonso Alves struck both of Heerenveen's goals early on as the visitors won at struggling RKC Waalwijk. Nilsson broke the deadlock in the 13th minute and not long after, Alves doubled the lead. RKC, who have just a single victory in the Eredivisie so far, lost for the seventh time in 13 matches while seventh-placed Heerenveen won their sixth in 12 games.

Heerenveen were a far better side in the opening half and deserved their lead at the interval. The first goal was set up by Gianni Zuiverloon, who crossed from the right and found Nilsson on the run. He hit the ball low and into the middle of the goal.

Just seven minutes later and Heerenveen had their second after a long pass from Paul Bosvelt landed at the feet of Alves. At the top right corner of the penalty box, he unleashed a shot that rocketed past Rob van Dijk in the RKC goal. Just past the half-hour, RKC's first chance came when Pius Ikedia laid the ball off for Robert Fuchs, whose 20-yard attempt was just wide. Hans van de Haar also missed for RKC after shooting from the left while outside the area, only to watch his effort fizz past the near post.

Right before half-time, Heerenveen almost scored again when Danijel Pranjic passed to ball to Alves whose shot went just over the bar. In the 61st minute, the first chance of the second half fell to Heerenveen when Bosvelt threatened but had his shot saved by Van Dijk. Bosvelt followed up the rebound and centred the ball but neither Nilsson nor Alves connected with the cross.

RKC's only opportunity in the second half arrived after Ivan Vicelich passed down the right to Hans van de Haar, who shot but his effort was saved by Brian Vandenbussche. Thirteen minutes from the end, the last real chance went to Heerenveen. Ugur Yildirim shot directly from a 20-yard free-kick on the left and struck the left post.

18 November 2006

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Drogba makes Swedes pay for misses

Didier Drogba struck in the 38th minute for the Ivory Coast to defeat Sweden 1-0 in an international friendly played at Le Mans in France on Wednesday. It was Chelsea striker Drogba's 25th international goal in 37 appearances for the Elephants

Sweden played the tidier football but were punished for lax marking when the English Premier League's top scorer powered home a header after a cross from the left. The Swedes should have gone ahead in the fifth minute when striker Markus Rosenberg steered the ball wide of the left hand post. Ivory Coast then picked up the pace with Bakary Kone troubling the defense and crossing for Drogba's header, which gave keeper Rami Shaaban no chance.

Sweden, who top Euro 2008 qualifying Group F after victories against Lithuania, Liechtenstein, Iceland and Spain, should have equalized just minutes into the second half. A smart one-two put Lasse Nilsson through on goalkeeper Boubacar Barry, who palmed away the midfielder's weak chip. Sweden continued to create openings, but were denied by Barry and let down by poor finishing with Kennedy Bakircioglu having the best of Sweden's chances. He skewed a shot wide of Barry's left hand post in the 72nd minute and saw a header turned wide by the keeper a few minutes later.

15 November 2006

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Breda - Heerenveen 1-1 (0-1)

5. Alves 0-1,
81. De Graaf 1-1
Heerenveen: Vandenbussche; Zuiverloon (67. Poulsen), Dingsdag, Hansson en Breuer; Bosvelt (72. Bradley), Hanssen en Pranjic; Yildirim, Alves (78. Friend) en Nilsson

10 November 2006

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Nilsson And Ibrahimovic Return To Swedish Squad

Lasse Nilsson and Zlatan Ibrahimovic are to return to international football. SC Heerenveen attacker Nilsson earned his first call up for the national squad in two years. Ibrahimovic and coach Lars Lagerbäck buried the hatchet after they had a fall out about Ibrahimovic’ nightlife.

Nilsson is part of a 21 man squad who are to practice versus Ivory Coast in Sweden on November 15. Nilsson has one cap so far that dates back to 2004 when he played versus Norway.

Nilsson is somewhat of a first team player so far this season. Under manager Gertjan Verbeek he has played ten matches as a starter and scored three times. That’s as much as Ibrahimovic in the Serie A for Inter Milan but he has played only eight matches.

Ibrahimovic and Lagerbäck had a fall out when the Swedish striker went clubbing the night before the match versus Liechtenstein. Lagerbäck benched him for disciplinary reasons but Ibrahimovic decided to leave the squad.

Lagerbäck and Ibrahimovic buried the hatchet now however and he is now once again part of the Swedish team. He will also be selected for the Swedish matches in February but only if he is matchfit.